No. 1, not with a bullet, but a gunslinger

The inevitable became official Sunday morning: The Sooners are No. 1 for the first time since the final week of the 2003 regular season.

It’s a status much deserved. Hang it on the right arm of Sam Bradford, who makes quarterbacking look so simple, making himself look more and more capable of a Heisman pose with each passing week.

Bradford threw for 411 yards against an attacking, gambling TCU defense Saturday night, producing the third-best passing day in OU history. He had 202 in the first quarter – a Sooner record – to quickly blow open a game that was supposed to be a test.

The only test remaining late Sunday night was for the voters associated with the two major polls, which were anything but unanimous.

The Sooners emerged No. 1 in both polls, but the 2-4 slots were shuffled.

The coaches were bigger believers in OU, granting the Sooners 57 of 61 first-place votes. Defending national champion LSU rolled in second, followed by Missouri and Alabama, with Texas No. 5.

AP voters were more impressed with Alabama’s decisive road win at Georgia, vaulting the Tide up six spots to No. 2, with LSU third, followed by Missouri and Texas.

Can we get to that Nov. 8, Tigers-Tide, Les Miles-Nick Saban, Bama on the Bayou game quick enough? Too rich.

Along with the Sooners, the Big 12 broke through as the big Week 5 winner, getting four teams in the top seven and six in the Top 25, as Oklahoma State entered the rankings for the first time.